This is one of the most important measures on our Travis County ballot this year, and we strongly encourage voters to learn about the many excellent community benefits Prop 1 will provide, starting with world-class medical care. Austinites who currently must travel out-of-town to seek cutting-edge care will instead be able to receive care here. It will create 15,000 permanent jobs and generate $2 billion in economic activity each year.

Prop 1 will expand access to care, especially for the 200,000 uninsured Travis County residents. 60% of those folks work and don't have or can't afford employer-provided insurance. Prop 1 will save taxpayer money by helping people without insurance avoid the emergency room. Preventative healthcare is more cost-efficient and less expensive than a visit to the ER.

Importantly, Prop 1 does not pay for construction of a physical medical school — instead, it funds access to healthcare by funding and expanding healthcare programs. The University of Texas has contributed $25 million in perpetuity and $5 million per year for the first eight years to fund maintenance and operation of a medical school. Additionally, the Seton family of hospitals has pledged $250 million towards construction of a teaching hospital. All of that funding for the medical school disappears if Prop 1 does not pass.

Proposition 1 will fill critical gaps in our healthcare delivery system, improve healthcare and access to healthcare for Travis County residents, and result in a healthier community. We unanimously and enthusiastically endorse a vote FOR Central Health Proposition 1!

Endorsements are made based on a weighted consensus of the staff, which guides the type and tone of endorsement. Members of the Burnt Orange Report staff employed by campaigns abstain from voting on those races.

STOP THE BLEEDING – NO ON PROP. 1I would ask the reader to look a little more CLOSELY into the details of Prop. 1 before casting their vote.

Here are a few I will highlight as reasons to VOTE AGAINST Prop.1:

1. Property tax increase of 63% for homeowners which will also be passed right along to renters in the form of HIGHER RENTS.

Current tax rate of 7.9 cents per $100 valuation will increase to 12.9 cents per $100 valuation – that is a HUGE tax increase and MORE WILL LIKELY FOLLOW IF YOU READ ON because this prop. is just to get the hospital built and DOES NOT COVER THE COST OF OPERATING THE HOSPITAL OVER TIME.